BMJ  2008;336:1070-1071 (10 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39555.608252.AD

Practice

A Patient’s Journey

Obsessive compulsive disorder with associated hypochondriasis

Pamela Harrington, patient1

1 North Nesting, Armathwaite CA4 9PB pam.harrington@virgin.net

Pamela Harrington developed obsessive compulsive disorder with associated hypochondriasis 24 years ago. Eventually, a sympathetic and patient general practitioner enabled her to manage her condition

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

I’ve seen it in their eyes. "Oh, God, not her again. I’ve got a waiting room full of patients and she’s back. I wonder what it is this time. I’ve told her a thousand times there’s nothing wrong with her. Why doesn’t she trust me? I’m the doctor. What does she know? Been looking stuff up on the internet again, I suppose."

If only he would look into my eyes. Why can’t he see that this fear is destroying me? Why does he make me feel like a naughty child in the headmaster’s study? Why can’t he see that I am an intelligent woman? Why doesn’t he want to help me? Why can’t he see that the real illness is in my mind?

I am a hypochondriac. I know I am a hypochondriac. Actually, no. I suffer from hypochondriasis. It sounds better. I also suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder. It . . . [Full text of this article]


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